Scientific Meeting
on Epilepsy March 29-30, 2007Leading Scientists to Discuss Latest Research
and New Therapies

What:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is
convening a scientific conference to evaluate and explore
the latest research on epilepsy. "Curing Epilepsy 2007: Translating
Discoveries Into Therapies” is sponsored by the National
Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). The
meeting will include presentations from scientists, academic
researchers, physicians, and patient advocates from around
the world.

Why:

Epilepsy is a disabling and often fatal disorder,
which affects people of all ages — from newborns to
seniors. There are approximately 3 million people with epilepsy
in the United States and each year about 200,000 new cases
are diagnosed. The goal of the meeting is to foster research
to improve diagnosis and treatments that might one day lead
to a cure.

Epilepsy’s effects on the entire patient including mental health
and cognitive abilities

The various causes and progression of the disorder

New and more powerful diagnostic tests and procedures

The promise of gene therapy

The continuing social stigma associated with disorder

This conference is sponsored by NINDS in collaboration with: American
Epilepsy Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Citizens
United for Research in Epilepsy, Epilepsy Foundation, Epilepsy Therapy
Development Project, Finding a Cure for Epilepsy and Seizures, International
League Against Epilepsy, Milken Family Foundation, National Association
of Epilepsy Centers, Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, and Parents Against
Childhood Epilepsy, Inc.

The NINDS is a component of the NIH within the Department of Health
and Human Services and is the nation’s primary supporter of biomedical
research on the brain and nervous system.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical
Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and
is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic,
clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the
causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For
more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.